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Brown bag goes behind the scenes of community gardens

Dec. 3, 2013

SYCAMORE – This time of year we often take time to give back to our community, either through buying an extra gift for those in need, or by making a donation to that special cause. On Thursday, Dec. 5, Dan Kenney will talk about how, in only two years, the DeKalb County Community Garden program has given back to the community in amazing ways.

Kenney is the founder, director, and board president of DeKalb County Community Gardens. He is also board president of Hope Haven, and devotes his time and energy to a number of other nonprofit groups. He is a retired teacher who was named the 2010 DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation Teacher of the Year. During his brown bag program, he will explain how the community gardens has grown to nearly 40 locations with 10 acres of growing space. In its first two growing seasons, the community gardens donated more than 16,000 pounds of produce. He will also discuss the issues of food insecurity in our county.

“We are looking forward to Kenney’s talk on Dec. 5. DCCG has made a tremendous impact in our community. His work directly connects to what we are doing, on a smaller scale, with the Sycamore History Museum gardens,” Sycamore History Museum Executive Director Michelle Donahoe said. “Due to the time and talents of local volunteers, significant progress is being made toward helping those in need.”

The history museum’s brown bag lunches are held at noon on the first Thursday of each month. During the winter season, talks are held in the DeKalb County Community Foundation’s Freight Room, 475 DeKalb Ave. Park on the Sacramento Street side of the building. The program is free and open to the public. Coffee and cookies are provided. For more information, call 815-895-5762 or visit sycamorehistory.org.